Moisture content target optimization in lumber drying

A Lumber Quality Model developed to predict lumber grade after drying was applied and validated in industry. The model was calibrated with a 198-piece lumber package that was dried at a local sawmill in British Columbia, Canada, and 30 sawmill grade reports were recorded from 2008 to 2010. The calibrated model was then used to predict the target moisture content that would result in the maximum lumber value. It was predicted that lumber value should increase by approximately 17 CAD (Canadian dollars) m(-3) if the target moisture content were reduced from the historic 17% to an optimum of approximate 13%. The sawmill implemented the recommendations and the predictions were validated with another seven industrial drying runs.